Remembering...

I realize that as  of the last few months this has become a place of merely delivering news...but not much of a place where I share my heart. The Lord gave me this spot years ago to share my heart, journey to Costa Rica, life in Latin America, and updates on our family...At times, I've written much, at times, I've been silent...At times, I've wanted so much to share, but just couldn't find the words...

Today, I'll try to find the words...because it's time to remember...

We've lived in Costa Rica for five years. Five years ago this month, we were living with a card table, bag chairs, air mattresses, and a bean bag as we waited out the last few weeks before the move from our comfortable, American Dream life for all things unfamiliar and surely uncomfortable. We were preparing to begin language school and full time ministry- two things that years before we'd never dreamed were part of life's plan, but somehow then in mid-2007, seemed like they fit perfectly.

We survived that grueling, and I mean grueling year of intense language learning, we remained faithful to our God and to each other- that is important because the enemy is like a lion looking for who he can devour in your normal everyday American Dream life...but on the mission field, ministry or the like, it's like that only ten-fold...and only by the grace of God - we made it...and our kids survived their year of MK school and Spanish immersion. I remember the first few weeks and how extremely difficult they were for the girls...dropping off Audrey and hearing her cries as we left her in the room with her Spanish-speaking caregivers. And Isabelle and her intese fear of all things Spanish. I remember the struggle it was for her and her Spanish class, her thinking everytime someone was speaking Spanish they were making fun of her. I remember her sweet friend Ally, who shared her birthday, and who took her by the hand and helped in her in ways she probably never could have understood as a 6-year old herself. I remember the day Iz finally decided on her own that she could and would learn Spanish. Hearing her now, you'd never know the struggle and fear she overcame. I remember how Ethan took it all in, entered into life in Latin America the best of all of us, and from day 1, eased into it as if he was meant to be here...I'll never forget one of the first Sunday's at church seeing him sitting with two other little boys and his Matchbox cars, playing with them as if he'd known them forever, somehow communicating with them...

So much time has passed between then and now. Life before CR, is merely a blink in the eye...and yet, now we prepare to return to US soil, not so much to that former way of life, but to the our home country...a new mission adventure, very different from this one, yet equally God-ordained and equally important in His eyes.

It is my hope to continue over the next few days or weeks (however it works out) to continue remembering- because remembering is important. If for no other purpose than to recall God's mighty mighty blessings over the last 5 years and to leave a written legacy of faith for our kids, I will write.

I've been reading through Chronicles and am awed at the details the Lord chooses to share with us, and the ones He chooses not to share. But one thing is for sure, our God chose to give us a wonderful, amazing legacy of faith that started with the beginning of time...and I, too, want to do the same, not only by teaching them to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and through God's Word, but also by recording for them His work in my life, their Daddy's life, our marriage, and His great provision and plan for our family.

I'd also like to thank those of you who've been with us from the beginning, those who pray for us, those who sacrifice financially for our family, those who open their homes to us, those who love us unconditionally...Ther are too many of you to thank here, but you know who you are and we love you and thank you!!!